HARRISBURG – Education continues to be a key focus for lawmakers as more than $10.5 billion in state funding will be invested in the Commonwealth’s schools, Rep. Gary Day (R-Berks/Lehigh) said today upon voting in favor of the new $29.09 billion state budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

“This new state budget rightfully prioritizes education spending, by investing a record-setting level toward schools at all levels – prekindergarten, primary, secondary, special, higher and vocational-technical,” said Day, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Education still encompasses the second largest chunk of state spending and shows our commitment to ensuring that our children receive the highest-quality instruction that we can provide.”

The $29.09 billion budget includes a $10.5 billion investment in education. Included in the special education line item is an increase of $20 million, the first bump in six years. The education budget also includes $200 million for the Ready to Learn Block Grant program, which gives schools more flexibility in where to direct state resources as a way to support academic achievement.

Rep. Day’s video comments:

Locally, the school districts in the 187th District will receive the following state support:

• Brandywine Heights Area School District -- $7,636,077, an increase of $375,208 or 5.2 percent.
• Fleetwood Area School District -- $10,713,931, an increase of $638,315, or 6.3 percent.
• Kutztown Area School District -- $6,615,646, an increase of $339,528 or 5.4 percent.
• Northwestern Lehigh School District -- $10,178,285, an increase of $431,223 or 4.4 percent.
• Parkland School District -- $21,719,818, an increase of $1,722,443 or 8.6 percent.

The budget also sees a funding increase for human services programs, helping to reduce the waiting list for services for people with intellectual disabilities.

The final state budget, which was passed on time by the state House for the fourth year in a row, includes no new taxes and reasonably manages the state’s assets to maximize every dollar.

More information about the state budget is available on Day’s website at www.RepGaryDay.com.